Sound of Music Live: great production, 3 hours of Carrie Underwood, and 3 hours of wholesome Catholicism; all on NBC

Does America finally want wholesome TV again?  Are we ready, as a people, for focus on family Christianity, good overcoming evil?  Well if Thursday night's production of The Sound of Music, on NBC of all places, is any indication, then maybe the answer is yes.  If not yes, at least the answer to the previous question could be hopefully! 

I said in another place that for me it was beyond awesome to turn on the TV, experience the drama and uncertainty of "live" TV, see Carrie Underwood for 3 hours, visibly witness so much Catholicism, and well presented Catholicism, did I mention 3 hours of Carrie Underwood, and great family TV!

The ratings results are pretty impressive; a huge majority of all TV watching Americans flocked to the Sound of Music.  The usual criticisms have begun as well but appear to be remarkably petty.  I'm still amazed at how many "viewers" of the Thursday night production still feel a comparison between this effort and the movie is even warranted.  Apples & oranges!  Did I mention Carrie Underwood?

Here is a good article that kind of represents what I'm saying here:

Ratings: ‘Sound of Music’ Gives NBC’s Biggest Thursday Since ‘ER’ Finale

TV | By Tim Molloy on December 6, 2013           Follow @timamolloy                     

                    

 

NBC executives are toasting this morning with tea (a drink with jam and bread): “The Sound of Music Live” gave the network its biggest non-sports Thursday since the finale of “ER” in 2009.

The holiday special, starring Carrie Underwood, earned a 4.6 rating/13 share the key 18-49 demographic, and 18.5 million viewers overall. That gave NBC its highest Thursday total viewership since the “Frasier” finale in 2004.

Also read: NBC’s ‘Sound of Music Live’: Hollywood’s Best Reactions

For the first time this fall, NBC beat a CBS lineup anchored by “The Big Bang Theory,” broadcast TV’s highest-rated scripted show. “Big Bang” tied for the top show in the demo with a 4.6 rating, and was second in total viewers with 15.3 million. NBC is the top-rated network this season, but Thursday nights have been a weak spot.

Also read: ‘Sound of Music’ Ratings: 5 Milestones It Hit for NBC

The strong numbers paid off a big gamble for NBC. As noted at the top of the show, it was the first time in 50 years a network had attempted a live musical. The three-hour running time gave over a full night of primetime to the music of Rodgers and Hammerstein, updating the beloved story by adding an “American Idol” as Maria and “True Blood” star Stephen Moyer as Capt. Von Trapp.